The Yukon Arctic Ultra takes place on snowmobile trails between Teslin and Faro.

Maps

Below you will find a Google Map for the 600 km which includes the trails for the shorter distances. The Dena Cho Trail from Ross River to Faro is availabl as a hiking and biking trail year-round. Obviously, using the trail always is at one’s own risk. Once the snow melts the trails on the South and North Canol Road are actually roads driven on by cars. Due ot the fact that large parts of the trail are obvious, marking is not very frequent. Having the GPS-file on a Garmin or similar device can help when in doubt. Regardless, it is important to be alert when navigating the trail. Athletes who are very tired are more likely to make mistakes and mistakes can have serious consequences.

Maps that show the shorter distances only will be provided later this year. If you are interested or participating in the 235 and 350 km races, basically, the 235 km race starts in Brooks Brook or Johnson’s Crossing and finishes in Ross River. The 350 km race starts in Teslin and goes straight to Faro, i.e. no out-and-back on the North Canol Road.

Trail Facts

Start 350 and 600 km race: Teslin

Finish 350 and 600 km race: Faro

Start 285 km race: Brooks Brook or Johnson’s Crossing – tbc.

Finish 285 km race: Ross River

Checkpoints: see detailed trail description below

Trail Conditions

It is of course impossible to say in advance what the trail conditions will be like. Dead winter in the Yukon Territory can bring just about any kind of conditions. If we are lucky, there is not too much fresh snow after the last trail breaking effort. In case of fresh snow and strong winds, the situation changes and trails will be soft and more challenging.

We will have our own trail breakers. However, they won’t be able to break a trail for the entire field of athletes at once as they will be spread out over a large distance once everyone begins. Therefore, be prepared for a soft trail. Luckily, on our new trail overflow is very limited but it can happen. Don’t underestimate those obstacles. Overflow can get you into a life threatening situation very quickly. Don’t keep on going if you are close to falling asleep. Wear waterproof socks and/or overshoes if necessary.

The YAU trail also features some road crossings. It is VERY important that you are cautious when crossing roads. There can be vehicles on these roads at any time of day and night. Ice and snow may make it impossible for cars and trucks to break in time and/or unexpected breaking may result in the vehicles going off the road seriously hurting or killing driver and passengers.

GPS Waypoints

Our Checkpoints (work in progress)

Here you will find more detailed information on our checkpoints:

Checkpoint 1 in 2025 was Brooks Brook. It is possible that the location of this will change for 2026. Watch out for updates/the race briefing. If the location will not change, we are using a private home which allows our crew to heat up meals and boil water. Also, it is of course a warm place for any athletes who are forced to quit.

It is not a place where participants who are still in the race are allowed to stay inside, or where it is easy to dry equipment. One thing is for sure, it is always our busiest checkpoint. That means patience may be required – when it comes to the medical check, food, hot drink and hot water. Sleeping is outside and if you do intend to sleep, it’s recommended to use the dedicated area a bit away from the building. Regardless, there is a lot of coming and going. For athletes who are a light sleeper it may not be easy to get quality rest.

The main challenge is the fact that athletes, especially when the temperatures are very cold, will crave to go inside and warm up, but they are not allowed to. Also, a common issue is that any clothing that is frozen, will become damp/wet during the medical check – which is inside. When going after outside afterwards, this moisture will make things immediately very uncomfortable when going outside again. Therefore, athletes are encouraged to have a plan to deal with this challenge, e.g. layer change before or immediately after the medical check.

Checkpoint 2 is located at Sydney Lake, on the South Canol Road. It is a remote wall tent checkpoint – comparable to what used to be our Dog Grave Lake checkpoint on the old trail. Depending on the tent sizes we have available, this checkpoint will have approximately 3 tents with wood stoves. Any remote wall tent checkpoint only offers limited comfort. Its main purpose is to have a location for a medical check and a safe place for anyone in trouble. This CP will not provide any meals. Athletes do get hot drinks and hot water. Drying gear efficiently is difficult and charging electronic equpment is not possible. Sleeping is outside.

Checkpoint 3 is Quiet Lake. Like Sydney Lake, it’s a wall tent checkpoint with the same kind of infrastructure and limited comfort only. As we make progress on the Canol South Road, the good thing is that the athletes spread out and checkpoints do get less busy.

Checkpoint 4 is a cabin at Lapie Lake. Because the field of athletes is spread out, it is easier to dry clothing here. If sleeping is allowed inside, depends on the number of athletes in the race. There is not a lot of space … Thanks to a generator, it is possible to load electronic devices.

Checkpoint 5 is the rec center in Ross River. It may not have showers but indoor toilets and plenty of space to ger reorganized, charge batteries and get a good rest inside. It is also a checkpoint where we serve the athletes a hot meal. Last but not least, there is a supermarket in the village where athletes are allowed to go shopping for anything they are craving for.

Athletes in the 235 km race finish here. Those in the 350 km distance hit the Dena Cho Trail and participants in the 600 km will now move onto the Canol North Road and come back to Ross River after the turn-around.

Checkpoint 6 and finish for the 350 km distance is the rec center in Faro. It’s a very large facility and great place to get some rest before the transfer back to Whitehorse. Here we also have the luxury of showers! Remember, the athletes in the 600 km will first head on to the Canol North Road before arriving at their Faro finish line.

Checkpoint 7 is a Trapper’s Cabin on Orchie Lake, on the Canol North Road. The setup is comparable to Lapie Lake, i.e. low comfort but slightly better than a wall tent CP.

Checkpoint 8 is another Trapper’s Cabin at Sheldon Lake. It is also where the 600 km athletes turn around to head back to Ross River, and then get onto the Dena Cho Trail to finish in Faro. Of course, the checkpoints at Orchie Lake and in Ross River are still open for the 600 km athletes to use.

At Sheldon Lake, sleeping is inside but the cabins are not insulated, i.e. do not get very warm. However, compared to a wall tent CP, it is more comfortable and easier to dry things.

Checkpoint facilities – Overview (work in progress)

At all checkpoints our Medical Team will do a medical check. This involves checking face/ears, hands and feet for frostbite. Also, athletes are asked a number of standard questions to determine their overall condition. Obviously, that’s not always fun but it’s simply necessary for safety.

At all checkpoints athletes get hot water to re-fill their thermoses and flasks and a hot drink. The hot drinks are not limited, i.e. under normal circumstances athletes can get more than one hot chocolate, tea or coffee.

Hot meals are only served at Brooks Brook, Ross River and Faro. At all other checkpoints athletes can get boiling water for an expedition meal if that is what they are using for meals.

Some checkpoints – especially Brooks Brook, Sydney Lake and Quiet Lake – may struggle providing hot water in larger quantities within a short period of time, i.e. if many athletes leave within minutes and they all need 3 litres of hot water, this may not work. It will be first come, first serve and the crew will of course try to not delay athletes. We ask athletes to be patient if it does take longer than expected.

Checkpoint

Brooks Brook

Sydney Lake

Quiet Lake

Lapie Lake

Ross River

Orchie Lake

Sheldon Lake

Faro

Medical Check

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Electricity

Yes

No

No

Yes (generator)

Yes

No

Yes (generator)

Yes

Shower

No

No

No

No

tbc.

No

No

Yes

Sleeping

Outside

Outside

Outside

Outside

Inside

Outside

Inside

Inside

Wifi

tbc.

No

No

tbc.

Yes

No

tbc.

Yes